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Wheatcroft, David
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Wheatcroft, D., Bliard, L., El Harouchi, M., Lopez-Idiaquez, D., Kärkkäinen, T., Kraft, F.-L. H., . . . Qvarnström, A. (2022). Species-specific song responses emerge as a by-product of tuning to the local dialect. Current Biology, 32(23), 5153-5158
Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>Species-specific song responses emerge as a by-product of tuning to the local dialect
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2022 (Engelska)Ingår i: Current Biology, ISSN 0960-9822, E-ISSN 1879-0445, Vol. 32, nr 23, s. 5153-5158Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]

Oscine birds preferentially respond to certain sounds over others from an early age, which focuses subse-quent learning onto sexually relevant songs.1-3 Songs vary both across species and, due to cultural evolution, among populations of the same species. As a result, early song responses are expected to be shaped by se-lection both to avoid the fitness costs of cross-species learning4 and to promote learning of population -typical songs.5 These sources of selection are not mutually exclusive but can result in distinct geographic patterns of song responses in juvenile birds: if the risks of interspecific mating are the main driver of early song discrimination, then discrimination should be strongest where closely related species co-occur.4 In contrast, if early discrimination primarily facilitates learning local songs, then it should be tuned to songs typical of the local dialect.5-7 Here, we experimentally assess the drivers of song discrimination in nestling pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). We first demonstrate that early discrimination against the songs of the closely related collared flycatcher (F. albicollis) is not strongly affected by co-occurrence. Second, across six European populations, we show that nestlings' early song responses are tuned to their local song dialect and that responses to the songs of collared flycatchers are similarly weak as to those of other conspecific dialects. Taken together, these findings provide clear experimental support for the hypothesis that cultural evolution, in conjunction with associated learning predispositions, drives the emergence of pre-mating reproductive barriers.

Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
Elsevier, 2022
Nationell ämneskategori
Evolutionsbiologi
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-495882 (URN)10.1016/j.cub.2022.09.063 (DOI)000901508800008 ()36288731 (PubMedID)
Forskningsfinansiär
EU, Europeiska forskningsrådet, 851753Vetenskapsrådet, 2019-03952
Tillgänglig från: 2023-02-03 Skapad: 2023-02-03 Senast uppdaterad: 2023-10-31Bibliografiskt granskad
Gallego-Abenza, M., Mathevon, N. & Wheatcroft, D. (2020). Experience modulates an insect's response to anthropogenic noise. Behavioral Ecology, 31(1), 90-96
Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>Experience modulates an insect's response to anthropogenic noise
2020 (Engelska)Ingår i: Behavioral Ecology, ISSN 1045-2249, E-ISSN 1465-7279, Vol. 31, nr 1, s. 90-96Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]

In response to anthropogenic noise, vertebrates express modified acoustic communication signals either through individual plasticity or local population adaptation. In contrast, how insects respond to this stressor is poorly studied. Field crickets Gryllus bimaculatus use acoustic signals to attract and locate mates and are commonly found in noisy roadside environments, offering a powerful system to study the effects of anthropogenic noise on insect communication. Rapid repetition of sexual calls (chirps) is essential to attract females, but calling incurs energetic costs and attracts predators. As a result, males are predicted to reduce calling rates when background noise is high. Here, we combine observations and experimental playbacks to show that the responses of field cricket males to anthropogenic noise also depend on their previous experience with passing cars. First, we show that males living on highway edges decrease their chirp rate in response to passing cars. To assess whether this behavioral response depends on previous exposure to car noise, we then broadcast recordings of car noise to males located at different distances from the road and, therefore, with different previous exposure to car noise. Although all tested individuals responded to broadcasted traffic noise, males closest to the road decreased their chirp rate less than individuals calling further from the road. These results suggest that regular exposure to anthropogenic noise may decrease individuals' sensitivity and behavioral responses to noise, allowing them to maintain effective signaling rates. Behavioral plasticity modulated by experience may thus allow some insect species to cope with human-induced environmental stressors.

Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2020
Nyckelord
acoustic adaptation, anthropogenic noise, behavioral plasticity, Gryllus bimaculatus, insect, sexual signals
Nationell ämneskategori
Etologi
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-407625 (URN)10.1093/beheco/arz159 (DOI)000515094600016 ()
Tillgänglig från: 2020-03-31 Skapad: 2020-03-31 Senast uppdaterad: 2020-03-31Bibliografiskt granskad
Dutour, M., Suzuki, T. N. & Wheatcroft, D. (2020). Great tit responses to the calls of an unfamiliar species suggest conserved perception of call ordering. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 74(3), Article ID 37.
Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>Great tit responses to the calls of an unfamiliar species suggest conserved perception of call ordering
2020 (Engelska)Ingår i: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, ISSN 0340-5443, E-ISSN 1432-0762, Vol. 74, nr 3, artikel-id 37Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]

Many species of birds produce distinct calls when mobbing predators. These calls often recruit nearby conspecifics and heterospecifics to help drive the predators away. In some species, such as members of the family Paridae, mobbing calls are composed of multiple elements that seem to follow a characteristic order. Previous work in parids demonstrated that note ordering influences both the responses of conspecifics and some other co-occurring Paridae species. Cross-species sensitivity to note ordering could result from individuals' learning to associate individual heterospecific calls with threats or, rather, because the typical note orderings are shared across species. Here, we test these hypotheses by assessing the responses of European great tits (Parus major) to the naturally and artificially ordered calls of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), a North American species. In response to the naturally ordered mobbing calls of chickadees, we found that great tits exhibit vigilance and rapidly approach the sound source, behaviors that were indistinguishable to those expressed in response to conspecific calls. If learned associations are necessary for sensitivity to note ordering, then a key prediction is that great tit responses to naturally ordered and artificially reversed chickadee calls should be similar (and weak). In contrast to this prediction, we found that great tits were less vigilant, but approach the sound source in response to artificially reversed chickadee calls. These findings suggest that perception of note ordering patterns is conserved. However, they are also in agreement with a "perception bias" hypothesis: that the first notes of the call mask the notes that follow them, preventing the receiver from perceiving the second part of the call. Although we provide evidence against perception bias, further research is needed to convincingly disentangle these two hypotheses.

Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
SPRINGER, 2020
Nyckelord
Alarm call, Bird, Interspecific attraction, Mobbing behavior, Paridae
Nationell ämneskategori
Zoologi
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-409680 (URN)10.1007/s00265-020-2820-7 (DOI)000521053300001 ()
Tillgänglig från: 2020-04-27 Skapad: 2020-04-27 Senast uppdaterad: 2020-04-27Bibliografiskt granskad
Suzuki, T. N., Wheatcroft, D. & Griesser, M. (2020). The syntax-semantics interface in animal vocal communication. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences, 375(1789), Article ID 20180405.
Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>The syntax-semantics interface in animal vocal communication
2020 (Engelska)Ingår i: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences, ISSN 0962-8436, E-ISSN 1471-2970, Vol. 375, nr 1789, artikel-id 20180405Artikel, forskningsöversikt (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]

Syntax (rules for combining words or elements) and semantics (meaning of expressions) are two pivotal features of human language, and interaction between them allows us to generate a limitless number of meaningful expressions. While both features were traditionally thought to be unique to human language, research over the past four decades has revealed intriguing parallels in animal communication systems. Many birds and mammals produce specific calls with distinct meanings, and some species combine multiple meaningful calls into syntactically ordered sequences. However, it remains largely unclear whether, like phrases or sentences in human language, the meaning of these call sequences depends on both the meanings of the component calls and their syntactic order. Here, leveraging recently demonstrated examples of meaningful call combinations, we introduce a framework for exploring the interaction between syntax and semantics (i.e. the syntax-semantic interface) in animal vocal sequences. We outline methods to test the cognitive mechanisms underlying the production and perception of animal vocal sequences and suggest potential evolutionary scenarios for syntactic communication. We hope that this review will stimulate phenomenological studies on animal vocal sequences as well as experimental studies on the cognitive processes, which promise to provide further insights into the evolution of language. This article is part of the theme issue 'What can animal communication teach us about human language?'

Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
ROYAL SOC, 2020
Nyckelord
animal communication, compositionality, idiom, language evolution, semantics, syntax
Nationell ämneskategori
Zoologi
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-403535 (URN)10.1098/rstb.2018.0405 (DOI)000506580700004 ()31735156 (PubMedID)
Tillgänglig från: 2020-01-31 Skapad: 2020-01-31 Senast uppdaterad: 2020-01-31Bibliografiskt granskad
Mugal, C., Wang, M., Backström, N., Wheatcroft, D., Ålund, M., Sémon, M., . . . Ellegren, H. (2020). Tissue-specific patterns of regulatory changes underlying gene expression differences among Ficedula flycatchers and their naturally occurring F1 hybrids. Genome Research, 30(12), 1727-1739
Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>Tissue-specific patterns of regulatory changes underlying gene expression differences among Ficedula flycatchers and their naturally occurring F1 hybrids
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2020 (Engelska)Ingår i: Genome Research, ISSN 1088-9051, E-ISSN 1549-5469, Vol. 30, nr 12, s. 1727-1739Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]

Changes in interacting cis- and trans-regulatory elements are important candidates for Dobzhansky-Muller hybrid incompatibilities and may contribute to hybrid dysfunction by giving rise to misexpression in hybrids. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms and determinants of gene expression evolution in natural populations, we analyzed the transcriptome from multiple tissues of two recently diverged Ficedula flycatcher species and their naturally occurring F1 hybrids. Differential gene expression analysis revealed that the extent of differentiation between species and the set of differentially expressed genes varied across tissues. Common to all tissues, a higher proportion of Z-linked genes than autosomal genes showed differential expression, providing evidence for a fast-Z effect. We further found clear signatures of hybrid misexpression in brain, heart, kidney, and liver. However, while testis showed the highest divergence of gene expression among tissues, it showed no clear signature of misexpression in F1 hybrids, even though these hybrids were found to be sterile. It is therefore unlikely that incompatibilities between cis-trans regulatory changes explain the observed sterility. Instead, we found evidence that cis-regulatory changes play a significant role in the evolution of gene expression in testis, which illustrates the tissue-specific nature of cis-regulatory evolution bypassing constraints associated with pleiotropic effects of genes.

Nationell ämneskategori
Genetik Evolutionsbiologi
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-432957 (URN)10.1101/gr.254508.119 (DOI)000596075800004 ()33144405 (PubMedID)
Forskningsfinansiär
Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, 2014/0044Vetenskapsrådet, 2013-8271Vetenskapsrådet, 2012-3722Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing (SNIC)
Tillgänglig från: 2021-01-26 Skapad: 2021-01-26 Senast uppdaterad: 2021-01-26Bibliografiskt granskad
Suzuki, T. N., Griesser, M. & Wheatcroft, D. (2019). Syntactic rules in avian vocal sequences as a window into the evolution of compositionality. Animal Behaviour, 151, 267-274
Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>Syntactic rules in avian vocal sequences as a window into the evolution of compositionality
2019 (Engelska)Ingår i: Animal Behaviour, ISSN 0003-3472, E-ISSN 1095-8282, Vol. 151, s. 267-274Artikel, forskningsöversikt (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]

Understanding the origins and evolution of language remains a deep challenge, because its complexity and expressive power are unparalleled in the animal world. One of the key features of language is that the meaning of an expression is determined both by the meanings of its constituent parts and the syntactic rules used to combine them; known as the principle of compositionality. Although compositionality has been considered unique to language, recent field studies suggest that compositionality may have also evolved in vocal combinations in nonhuman animals. Here, we discuss how compositionality can be explored in animal communication systems and review recent evidence that birds use an ordering rule to generate compositional expressions composed of meaningful calls. Also, we suggest that bird-songs, particularly when incorporating calls, may represent unrecognized examples of compositionality in animal communication. Finally, we outline future research directions to uncover the development, neural mechanisms and evolution of compositionality. 

Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2019
Nyckelord
bird, birdsong, call combination, communication, compositionality, language evolution, syntax
Nationell ämneskategori
Filosofi
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-384083 (URN)10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.01.009 (DOI)000467013300027 ()
Tillgänglig från: 2019-06-18 Skapad: 2019-06-18 Senast uppdaterad: 2019-06-18Bibliografiskt granskad
Suzuki, T. N., Wheatcroft, D. & Griesser, M. (2018). Call combinations in birds and the evolution of compositional syntax. PLoS biology, 16(8), Article ID e2006532.
Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>Call combinations in birds and the evolution of compositional syntax
2018 (Engelska)Ingår i: PLoS biology, ISSN 1544-9173, E-ISSN 1545-7885, Vol. 16, nr 8, artikel-id e2006532Artikel i tidskrift, Editorial material (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]

Syntax is the set of rules for combining words into phrases, providing the basis for the generative power of linguistic expressions. In human language, the principle of compositionality governs how words are combined into a larger unit, the meaning of which depends on both the meanings of the words and the way in which they are combined. This linguistic capability, i.e., compositional syntax, has long been considered a trait unique to human language. Here, we review recent studies on call combinations in a passerine bird, the Japanese tit (Parus minor), that provide the first firm evidence for compositional syntax in a nonhuman animal. While it has been suggested that the findings of these studies fail to provide evidence for compositionality in Japanese tits, this criticism is based on misunderstanding of experimental design, misrepresentation of the importance of word order in human syntax, and necessitating linguistic capabilities beyond those given by the standard definition of compositionality. We argue that research on avian call combinations has provided the first steps in elucidating how compositional expressions could have emerged in animal communication systems.

Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2018
Nationell ämneskategori
Zoologi Jämförande språkvetenskap och allmän lingvistik
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-364731 (URN)10.1371/journal.pbio.2006532 (DOI)000443383300035 ()30110321 (PubMedID)
Tillgänglig från: 2018-11-01 Skapad: 2018-11-01 Senast uppdaterad: 2018-11-01Bibliografiskt granskad
Sirkiä, P. M., McFarlane, S. E., Jones, W., Wheatcroft, D., Ålund, M., Rybinski, J. & Qvarnström, A. (2018). Climate-driven build-up of temporal isolation within a recently formed avian hybrid zone.. Evolution, 72(2), 363-374
Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>Climate-driven build-up of temporal isolation within a recently formed avian hybrid zone.
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2018 (Engelska)Ingår i: Evolution, ISSN 0014-3820, E-ISSN 1558-5646, Vol. 72, nr 2, s. 363-374Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]

Divergence in the onset of reproduction can act as an important source of reproductive isolation (i.e., allochronic isolation) between co-occurring young species, but evidence for the evolutionary processes leading to such divergence is often indirect. While advancing spring seasons strongly affect the onset of reproduction in many taxa, it remains largely unexplored whether contemporary spring advancement directly affects allochronic isolation between young species. We examined how increasing spring temperatures affected onset of reproduction and thereby hybridization between pied and collared flycatchers (Ficedula spp.) across habitat types in a young secondary contact zone. We found that both species have advanced their timing of breeding in 14 years. However, selection on pied flycatchers to breed earlier was weaker, resulting in a slower response to advancing springs compared to collared flycatchers and thereby build-up of allochronic isolation between the species. We argue that a preadaptation to a broader niche use (diet) of pied flycatchers explains the slower response to raising spring temperature, but that reduced risk to hybridize may contribute to further divergence in the onset of breeding in the future. Our results show that minor differences in the response to environmental change of co-occurring closely related species can quickly cause allochronic isolation.

Nyckelord
Competitive exclusion, ecological speciation, prezygotic isolation, reinforcement, speciation, temporal segregation
Nationell ämneskategori
Evolutionsbiologi Ekologi
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-341102 (URN)10.1111/evo.13404 (DOI)000424131100011 ()29214649 (PubMedID)
Forskningsfinansiär
VetenskapsrådetFinlands Akademi
Tillgänglig från: 2018-02-06 Skapad: 2018-02-06 Senast uppdaterad: 2019-03-10Bibliografiskt granskad
Wheatcroft, D. & Price, T. D. (2018). Collective Action Promoted by Key Individuals. American Naturalist, 192(4), 401-414
Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>Collective Action Promoted by Key Individuals
2018 (Engelska)Ingår i: American Naturalist, ISSN 0003-0147, E-ISSN 1537-5323, Vol. 192, nr 4, s. 401-414Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]

Explaining why individuals participate in risky group behaviors has been a long-term challenge. We experimentally studied the formation of groups of birds (mobs) that aggressively confront predators and avian nest parasites and developed a theoretical model to evaluate the conditions under which mobs arise. We presented taxidermied mounts of predators on adult birds (hawks and owls) and of nest threats (crows and cuckoos) at different distances to nests of Phylloscopus warblers. Even when alone, birds are aggressive toward predators of adult birds, both at and away from their nests. By contrast, birds aggressively confront nest threats alone only when they have a nest nearby. However, strong initial responses by nest owners lead individuals without nearby nests to increase their responses, thereby generating a mob. Building on these findings, we derive the conditions in which individuals are incentivized to invest more when joining a high-gain individual compared to when acting alone. Strong responses of high-gain individuals acting alone tend to reduce the investments of other high-gain individuals that subsequently join. However, individuals that benefit sufficiently little from acting alone increase their investments when joining a high-gain individual and can even be sufficiently incentivized to join in when they would otherwise not act alone. Together, these results suggest an important role for key individuals in the generation of some group behaviors.

Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
UNIV CHICAGO PRESS, 2018
Nyckelord
antipredator behavior, by-product mutualism, collective action, cooperation, group formation, mobbing behavior
Nationell ämneskategori
Zoologi
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-365285 (URN)10.1086/698874 (DOI)000444262900003 ()30205027 (PubMedID)
Tillgänglig från: 2018-11-13 Skapad: 2018-11-13 Senast uppdaterad: 2018-11-13Bibliografiskt granskad
Griesser, M., Wheatcroft, D. & Suzuki, T. N. (2018). From bird calls to human language: exploring the evolutionary drivers of compositional syntax. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences , 21, 6-12
Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>From bird calls to human language: exploring the evolutionary drivers of compositional syntax
2018 (Engelska)Ingår i: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences , ISSN 2352-1546 , E-ISSN 2352-1554, Vol. 21, s. 6-12Artikel, forskningsöversikt (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]

Compositional syntax, where lexical items are combined into larger units, has been assumed to be unique to human language. Recent experiments, however, showed that Japanese tits combine alert and recruitment calls into alert-recruitment sequences when attracting conspecifics to join in mobbing a predator. We speculate that such call combinations are favoured when: Firstly, callers and receivers have shared interests in exchanging information; secondly, species produce different types of calls in different situations, leading to distinct behavioural responses in receivers; and finally, complex situations exist in which receivers benefit by combining two or more behaviours. These preconditions were also present in human ancestors. Thus, future work on bird calls may provide insights into the evolution of compositional syntax in human language.

Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
Elsevier, 2018
Nationell ämneskategori
Zoologi
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-366316 (URN)10.1016/j.cobeha.2017.11.002 (DOI)000440543600003 ()
Forskningsfinansiär
EU, Horisont 2020, 665778
Tillgänglig från: 2018-11-20 Skapad: 2018-11-20 Senast uppdaterad: 2020-11-13Bibliografiskt granskad
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